Jungnang Stream in northern Seoul is swollen with muddy water due to heavy rain in northern Seoul on July 18.NEWS1
Access to 29 streams in Seoul has been restricted on Tuesday due to expected downpours.
The affected streams include Cheonggyecheon in central Seoul, Jungnang Stream in northern Seoul and Yangjae Stream in southern Seoul. Heavy rain advisories remain in effect in western parts of Seoul.
Entire access to paths along the waterways was closed after a stationary front brought intense rainfall in the early morning, with hourly precipitation reaching as much as 53.5 millimeters (2.1 inches), the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday.
The lower roadway beneath Jeungsan Bridge in western Seoul was also temporarily closed but reopened to traffic at 5:17 a.m.
The city has partially activated two stormwater pumping stations for drainage operations.
Authorities had received 12 rain-related reports — seven for drainage assistance, one for a fallen tree and four for safety measures — as of Tuesday morning.
Access to Cheonggyecheon in central Seoul is restricted due to rain on July 20.NEWS1
The Seoul city government activated the first stage of its disaster and safety response system at 11 p.m. Monday in preparation for the downpour. A total of 3,206 personnel from the city government and district offices were mobilized for emergency response.
The city also reinforced safety monitoring in flood-prone areas, including streams and low-lying neighborhoods, inspected storm drains, increased patrols in areas at risk of landslides and expanded monitoring of underpasses.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued heavy rain advisories for southwestern and northwestern Seoul at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday.
A heavy rain advisory is issued when rainfall is expected to reach at least 60 millimeters over three hours or 110 millimeters over 12 hours.
Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul, recorded the highest rainfall. Its cumulative precipitation reached 71.5 millimeters since Monday. The district recorded a peak hourly rainfall of 53.5 millimeters.
Seoul is expected to receive an additional 30 to 100 millimeters of rainfall through Wednesday morning, according to the state weather agency.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
